#93: Knives Out

Release Date: November 27th, 2019

Format: Streaming (Netflix)

Written by: Rian Johnson

Directed by: Rian Johnson

3 Stars

Knives Out has a lot of things going for it. Maybe a bit too much. D thought it was a little too long, and I agree. About thirty minutes, three plot twists, and a couple social commentaries too long.

I don’t think it spoils the movie by any means. It’s still a pretty fun movie, with fun performances from a strong ensemble cast. I especially liked Ana de Armas and Daniel Craig. 

But I’m not sure I’m the biggest fan of Rian Johnson’s sensibilities. There is something garish about the visuals here. The digital photography and the film’s color palette strips the movie of any sort of menace, so we’re left with comedic hijinx and attention-grabbing camera movements to keep us entertained. It mostly works.

There are also some pretty on-the-nose commentaries regarding race and social class. On-the-nose…clubbed over the head…however you want to describe them, they’re there. Coincidentally Knives Out came out the same year as Parasite, a movie with beautifully rendered, subtler social commentary and an exquisite visual style.

Knives Out also reminded me of another who-done-it starring Christopher Plummer and Daniel Craig, David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011). Like Parasite, The Girl with the Dragon carries the menace and visual weight that Knives Out lacks.

But if you’re looking for a pretty funny, but mostly weightless, but kind of clever mystery farce with a great cast, Knives Out will do the trick. It’s got plenty of them up its sleeve. Probably too many.